Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1887-06-17

FEREYcES IN THE Family.
FREDERICK HERMANN TRIES TO
KILL HIS WIFE, MURDERS HIS
SLEEPING BABE, AND CUTS HIS
OWN THROAT.
"A telegram from Pittsburg, June
&, says: Difference in faith caused
Frederick Hermann 10 make a dcs-
perate attempt to kill bis wife, then
to cut his baby's throat and try to
kill himself this afternoon at his
home, on Mount Washington, one
of the most beautiful hilltop sub
urbs OF this city. Hermann, who
is about thirty-fve years of age,
and a member of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church, while his wife is
a Catholic, accidentally learned,
while at his work as helper in
divers mil, yesterday, that his
wife had had their third child, a
beautiful little girl, nineteen months
old, baptized into the Catholic
Church. Although all the other
children of the family were baptiz-
ed Lutherans, the question Of faith
had not before come between them.
After the days work, Hermann
went home and changed his cloth
ing, ready to eat bis supper. He
then went down to the kitchen,
and, calling to his wife, who is an
iDtelligent.looking woman. few
years his junior, made her sit down
on his knee. He kissed her affec-
tionately, aud then asked her if ii
is true that Lizzie, the baby, had
been baptized by Catholic priest.
His wife answered eyes" and start
ed to explain. He stopped her
with: "Tbis is a matter of death
for you and me- and rising went
towards the cupboard. Mrs. Her
mann jumped out of the window,
and, screaming with terror, ran
down the street. ner husband
sprang after her, and, picking up a
brick, caught and struck her on
the head just as she ran into the
arms of a nelghbor. The man tried
to protect her, but the frenzied fa-
natic, with murderOus blows of the
brick, cut her face and scalp until
she relapsed INTO unconsciousness,
Leaving her for dead, Hermann
then went home, and, locking the
door, walked up to the second-story
room, where the baby (the cause OF
the tragedy slept peaceful in her
little cradle. Taking the baby in
his arms, with ono stroke Of the
razor with which he had armed
himself he cut its throat, leaving
the head Joined to the body BY a
shred of flesh. When the child
had stopped bleeding he replaced
it in its cradle, and walking 10 a
window raised it and leaned out
He raised the razor to his throat
and stopped a moment to look at a
neighbor, who, seeing his action,
yelled: ADO it good.' Then, with
a cut, he severed the .iugular-vein
and his windpipe. The neighborr
seeing the blood flow, yelled for
help, and Joseph Kessner ran to
the house.
He tried the door, and in a mo-
ment was admitted 10y Hermann,
whose blood was flowing more free
ly with every moment. With kess-
neTs assistance Hermann went to
a bed and lay down, while other
neigbbOrs ran for the doctor and
the minister. Hermann then yell
ed for pencil and paper, and began
to write notes in German, explain
ing his action. lie SAID that his
wife had deceived him, and that he
did not wish to live longer. lie
asked for his hymn book and Bible,
Fand, after reading a few moments,
wrote again that he fOrgave heI
freely and was ready to die. The
physician said that his jugular vein
was severed, and that nothing could
be done to save his life. HIS won
derful vitality, however, kept hin
up, aud he continued to read biz
Bible.
The scene in the house was
horrible one. In one apartment
the husband and father, murderel
aud suicide, was bleeding to death
while in another the mother, her
self, bleeding and sore, knelt be
side her murdered child whose
blood stained the carpet and bed
ding, whichy had been kille'
without being awakened, ant
smiled even in death, The excite
ment was intense and many per
sons from the city journeyed to th
hill top, where the house was sur
rounded by a crowd ofpeople eager
ly questioning each other for neV
detail or asking the condition @
: Hermann and his wife. Mrs. lleT
mann IS cut in a dozen diileren
places and is so prOstrated wit
the nervous shock that the phys
clan says her recovery is doubtful
Hermann may live till morning
, but he cannot possibly recover,
woMAN's WONDERFUL FIDELITY
P1TTsBURB, PA, June FIRED
eriek Hermann. the man who bea